Fan ning-mill



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. MILLER. FANNING MILL.

No. 403,852. Patented May 21 1889.

- 28heets-Sheet 2.

R. MILLER.

FANNING MILL.

(No Model.)

No. 403,852. Patented May 21 1889.

N. Prints Plwhifilhognphor. Wanhingtun. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MILLER, OF HEBRON, NEBRASKA.

FANNlNG-MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,852, dated May 21, 1889. Application filed February 6, 1889. Serial No. 298,805. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT MILLER, of Hebron, in the county Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fanning-Mills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whlch it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fanning-mills; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims, whereby a cheap, durable, and effective machine is produced.

The objects of my invention are to regulate the amount of movement that the two shoes shall have at right angles to each other by the same cranked shaft and its connections, to regulate the angle at which the lower shoe shall be adjusted, and to provide a mechanism for operating the movable por tion of thebottom of the hopper.

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a machine which embodies myinvention, taken from opposite sides. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective of the shaking mechanism. Fig. 4: is a detached View of the mechanism for operating the bottom of the hopper. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the gearing. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the operating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a perspective of one end of the machine. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the machine, taken on the dotted line w :20 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a detail of the gears.

A represents the uprights of the frame, whlch are joined together above or near their centers by means of the horizontal bars B. These uprights are connected together at this polnt by the bar B, for the purpose of preventing the frame from being shaken apart by the operation of the different parts, as is usually the case. The casing C of the machine is placed inside of the uprights and crossbars in the usual manner. Secured to a short shaft, D, at the front end of the machine, is the driving-Wheel E, which meshes with .a pinion, F, upon the fan-shaft, and this pinion F in turn meshes with the pinion G upon the of Thayer and State of crank-shaft H. The whole motive power is applied to the wheel E, and all the diiferent parts of the machine are operated by this wheel. Connected to the crank portion of the shaft H is the connecting-link I, which is provided with a flange, J, upon one side or edge, and through this fiangeare made a number of holes, in which one end of the connecting-link is fastened. The upper end of the link K is fastened to the upper shoe, L, and through this rod K the shoe receives its lateral motion. By means of the series of holes through the flange J the connectinglink K can be shifted from one to another, so as to give the shoe a longer or shorter stroke, as may be desired. This upper shoe, L, is provided with brackets N, in which the supporting-rods O catch, the lower ends of the rods being supported directly upon the crossbar B and brackets N, which are secured to the outer sides of the shoe L. These rods allow the shoe a free lateral vibratory motion, which can be increased or decreased by the adjustment of the connecting-rod K in the holes in the flange J. This upper shoe consists of grooved side pieces, in which the screens are placed, and which screens can be adjusted to any angle desired. Passing through the upper portion of the screen is a clamping-rod, which holds the sides together and holds the screens by frictional contact in position.

The lower shoe, Q, is supported at its rear end by the hangers R, which are secured at their upper ends to the under sides of the cross-bar B, and which have a series of holes through their lower ends. Secured to the sides of the shoe are the loops, guides, or holding devices S, through which the lower ends of the hangers R pass, and through which loops or guides and the hangers fastening-pins T are passed for the purpose of locking the parts together. By changing the pin from one hole in the hangers R to another the lower shoe can be set at any desired angle, so as to regulate the speed at which the grain shall pass off from its top. The lower end of the connecting-rod I is fastened to the bent lever U, which is j ournaled upon one of the front uprights, A, and whichlever has its turned-up end fastened loosely to the shoe. The turned-up end of the lever has a number of holes through it, so that the. point at which it is fastened to the shoe can be changed at the will of the operator, and thus give the shoe a longer or shorter endwise movement, as may be desired. Upon the opposite side of the machine 'from the operating-rod H the shoe is supported by the angle-iron V, which is journaled at its lower end, and which is connected at its upper end to the shoe, and this upper end is provided with holes for adjusting the length of the endwise movement that the shoe shall have the same as the lever U.

Under the shoe Q is formed abox for catching any dirt or small seed which may drop through the lower shoe, and which is held in the box, so that it cannot mingle with the clean grain.

The movable bottom X of the hopper has secured to its under side a rod, Y, and connectcd to this rod Y are the two connectingrods Z, which are fastened at their outer ends to the levers or arms W, which are secured to the operating-shaft A, which extends across the end of the frame. naled in the brackets B on the end of the frame, and the cranked end 0 of the lever is made to move inside of the guide or keeper D on the side of the frame. When the shaft A is rocked, the arms or levers through the connecting-rods Z and the rod Y, secured to the under side of the bottom X, cause the bottom to move, so asto regulate the amount This shaft A is jourof feed from the hopper'upon the upper shoe. By this construction the bottom X can be given any adjustment that is desired or the flow of grain shut off entirely.

Having thus described my invention I claim 1. The combination of the cranked shaft H, which extends along the side of the frame,

the connecting-rod I, which is connected at its upper end to the crank, and the bent cranked lever U, which is pivoted upon the frame-work, and which has its outer end attached to the connecting-rod and its inner end to the lower shoe, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the cranked rod,the connecting-rod connected thereto and provided with the perforated flange, the bent lever connected to the lower end of the connecting-rod for operating the lower shoe, the connecting-rod K, fastened to the flange, and the upper shoe, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the movable portion of the bottom of the hopper, the rod connected thereto, the connecting-rods, the levers or arms, the operatingshaft, and suitable bearings for the shaft, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MILLER. 4

\Vitnesses:

JOHN SoovrLLn, D. T. SoovILLE. 

